"Yes, but she didn't mention how she got it."

"I could ask her."

"Oooh, go ahead."

Hello? he tries. Me again.

Hello? It's the same person as before?

Yep, Anthony – I'm not sure I gave you my name – but Gabe was wondering how you got the messages in the bottles? As in, how they appear.

Ah, they appear when I am not looking. Found one in the bathroom sink and another in a flower vase.

Do they always appear in water?

No. But I guess they usually do.

Where else?

There was one on the couch. One on the sidewalk while the weather was damp. One in the actual mailbox. There was near a glass of water. It mostly seems pretty random.

Alright, thanks.

"Apparently it is sometimes slash usually near or in water but not always?"

"Water as in a river or water as in a sink?"

"Sink, glass, near a puddle?"

"And does it come with a splash or something?"

"She isn't usually there when it appears, she said? I can ask though?"

"Sure."

He does so!

Gabe's mom thinks she sometimes hears a thing, but she is not sure. The bottles just appear.

"Not sure if this is a sign of Henry being more or less stubborn than I expected."

"Should I just ask him directly again, see if he's willing to indulge the voice in his head again?

"Couldn't hurt."

Me again.

Of course it is. How can I help you, voice-in-my-head?

My name's Anthony. Yes, under your assumptions, the voice in your head just gave itself a name. Anyway, I'm curious if and why you've been ignoring messages in bottles.

There is a sort of thoughtful silence. I don't want to... give in and believe in them.